Blinfolded, Part Three

 

There had been something plaguing her, for months it seemed she couldn’t find that balance that made everything click. She wasn’t able to dial in and return to form like she had many times before. People had noticed, especially since her emotional break down seemed to have melded into the public forum, something that she would have never let occur many moons ago.



She had spent much time praying to Ganesha (The hindu god of wealth and fortune, who also, is the remover of all obstacles) and while Ganesha’s influence had saved her once before it seemed his presence was far out of reach for her now. Because maybe it wasn’t something she was so easily able to solve.



As she laid in bed that night, she looked over to Rhett who despite wearing a brave face, she could see his eyes traveling back and forth while trying to sleep. Something plagued his mind too, but unlike her he was able to mask it rather well. Moving closer to him, she gently laid her head to rest on his shoulder her cold hands slowly traveling to touch his face, if only for a moment there was a calmness there for him. At least one of them could find some relief if only momentarily.



She slowly drifted back to sleep with her head now resting on his shoulders, knowing that no matter what the incident would come flooding back to her mind, but she couldn’t keep her blind fold on forever.





= = = = = = = = =



The Cape Town Sun beat down on them as they rushed themselves through the airport terminal. Rhys had managed to ping them a location to meet him, though all she could do was feel her pulse beating, it hardly allowed her the opportunity to think about what they were doing the danger that could come with it. Her ex-fiancé, one of the most powerful criminals in the world, on one of Interpol’s many lists, and ideally making her his perfect target. She was the one who got away, the one who managed to defy him and she had been an anxiety-ridden individual ever sense. His making her flee had led to her meeting Rhys, who had been her savior until he’d gone mysteriously missing in the blink of an eye, only to reappear later. His disappearance prompting her first meeting Rhett and then the relationship that followed behind it was purely out of love and affection. They’d worked together using wrestling as a funding to search for his brother, the traveling provided many different avenues of access, but eventually it wasn’t them who found him, but the opposite. She had seen a man killed right before her very eyes, and she had thought the bullet had gotten Rhett instead, this experience had traumatized her, but thankfully Rhys and his sharpshooting skills had saved them from the situation they’d been in, while visiting Mumbai.



Ever since then though, Yara felt as if it was bound to happen again. Every day was spent with trepidation, even when they’d won their tag team championships in Millennium it felt like she couldn’t fully enjoy the experience because she was always looking over her shoulder, always waiting for the next ball to drop if you will. However, with Rhys’ reappearance and his work with Saber, he prompted a different kind of idea, hence them now visiting South Africa.



Qiyara Singh: “Are you sure about this?”



She asked Rhett as she held his hand and they both seamlessly filed into the back of a small car that was meant to resemble a taxi. Qiyara dressed with a checkered headscarf around her head, a plain, but very form fitted t-shirt, and perfectly pressed pants to match the scarf, big heavy sunglasses covering her eyes. This was her best attempt at incognito which as you could see was not exactly the best.



Qiyara Singh: “I mean after last time. . . it just has be concerned.”



She stated now sliding into the cab and moving in closer to him, which she periodically did when she was nervous or feeling any form of trepidation. Rhett was not just her boyfriend, he was her confidant, her protector, among many other things and to be at such a young age, he was far more seasoned than many ever wanted to give him credit for. Whatever he’d done in his stint in the service had managed to teach him discipline and values, these were among the many traits that’s he admired about him.



She was quick to give the driver directions in the native tongue, while it wasn’t perfect she’d studied enough to know how to say certain things and with that they were off to their destination.



Rhett Adelson: "Yara, I'm honestly not sure about anything."



As the driver took off, Rhett leaned back in his seat as he reached over and grabbed Qiyara's hand before squeezing it.



Rhett Adelson: "But one thing I am sure of? Is that I need to do whatever it takes to keep you safe."



He used his free hand to reach over to Yara and he placed it on her cheek as her peered into her eyes.



Rhett Adelson: "That's all I've ever cared about ever since you've come into my life and I promise, I will never let anything happen to you. We'll find a way to end all of this and then we can all go home and move on with our lives."



He squeezed her hand tighter as he smiled.



Rhett Adelson: "And when I say move on with our lives? I mean you and me taking that next step. We've waited long enough."



She couldn’t help the troubled thoughts that she had, and unfortunately for her she wasn’t all that adept at masking them when she had any doubts or concerns either. If she thought it, typically it was plastered on her face, only because there was the duty of her typically translating things in her mind as well. Nevertheless, if there was anything to get a woman’s mind off of anything it was an indication of taking the next step, as he’d stated. They had been together for almost three years at this point in time, and earnestly showed no signs of stopping. She was just as ready as he was to take those next steps, but that meant going through this first. They had to or else it would haunt them forever and despite her guilt for getting not just Rhett, but Rhys involved in this as well, she was grateful they were in her corner or else she would be lost.



Qiyara Singh: “You’re right.”



She said softly leaning into him, trusting his guidance truly. He had probably dealt with something like this more than she had. Aside from the little bit of wrestling her brother had taught her before his death and the experiences with her cousins in Thailand where she learned Muay Thai for protection, she’d hardly dealt with conflict in such a violent way.



Qiyara Singh: “I just can’t seem to stop shaking.”



She stated, now being forthcoming as they drove through the cape town streets, surely to find the location Rhys wanted to meet them at.



Rhett wrapped his arm around Qiyara and pulled her into him tightly.



Rhett Adelson: "It's alright, babe, I've got you and I always will."



He leaned in and kissed her cheek, doing his best to reassure her.



Rhett Adelson: "As long as we have each other? Everything is going to be alright. We just have to be strong and believe."



He peered deeply into her eyes and smiled.



Rhett Adelson: "When you feel yourself falling, just look toward me and I'll help pick you back up. And if you legs get too tired to walk? Then I'll carry you to where we need to be."



She smiled then reaching her hands to his face and any ounce of her fear slipping away.



Qiyara Singh: “You are such a poet.”



There was a teasing grin given, but the sentiment was true. He always knew what to say to calm her, and while those words may have sounded like something from a novel, she knew he meant them. He didn’t say things he didn’t mean.



So She did as he asked, she looked towards him nearly the whole ride to their location and even more so when they actually arrived. Gripping his hand tightly she let him lead the way, the building was archaic it seemed like it had been deserted from quite some time and all she could do was find the humor in Rhys picking this sort of location. It was away from public areas, it was largely ignored, and best of it all it offered him several vantage points of his surroundings. She knew they didn’t even have to knock and he’d already know they were there and sure enough he’d welcomed them into his little base of operations within moments.



Qiyara Singh: “This looks like a movie set.”



Qiyara noted with a laugh staring at all of the monitors that were busy monitoring something she couldn’t really tell. Various grayscale frames focused on different areas, it looked as if the computer was searching for something. There were also maps scattered about, target locations, a world map hanging on a peg board that had various thumbtacks in it clearly showcasing where Rhys had been tracking something, various food containers, and various other equipment that she honestly couldn’t take in. It all seemed so surreal what he did in his spare time.



Rhett chuckled at Qiyara's comment before looking around and taking it all in himself. He then looked over at her.



Rhett Adelson: "As you know, looks can be deceiving. It might look like some kind of movie set but this is the real deal. As is anything my brother does. There's a reason they call him Doom, because that's what's impending when he has his target locked in."



Qiyara simply nodded, she was a direct witness to his skills in action and she would never question his capabilities considering he had saved her life not once but twice.



Qiyara Singh: “I hope that is true in this case.”



She murmured once again try to hide her nerves, while Rhys may have done this professionally and Rhett may have dealt with it during his time in the service, but this was the closest she had ever come to danger and it didn’t sit well with her that others were risking their lives just to keep her safe from this man.


Rhett Adelson: "Hey now..."



He gently places his hand on Yara's cheek and gazes into her eyes.



Rhett Adelson: "We've gotten this far, haven't we? Let's not lose faith now. I don't hope anything because I know for a fact, that everything is going to be alright. I promise you."



She nodded but there was a very timid nature behind her gaze still. She wanted to believe that he was right but anxiety didn’t allow her to fully trust that.



Qiyara Singh: “Rhetty you can’t promise that.”



She stated sincerely the nerves showing in her speech.



Qiyara Singh: “this is one of the most dangerous men in the world and we know there is no length to what he will do to catch everyone he believes wronged him in some way. There is no guaranteeing anything.”



Her breathing was heavy then. She wanted to be reassured by his words alone but how could she? She’d had to go into hiding, change her name, uproot her entire life, though in meeting Rhett and finding a career she never dreamed of she knew she was lucky for that now but still there was no denying just how afraid of this man she was. How deathly afraid.


He shook his head.



Rhett Adelson: Maybe a few years ago? I couldn't of made that promise."



Rhett paused for a moment, his eyes not leaving Qiyara's as he searched for the right words to say, the right words from the heart.



Rhett Adelson: "But ever since I met you and you came into my life? That's how I've felt. You gave me hope in a hopeless world. I was lost, hurt, ostracized from my family and I thought my brother was dead. I was so fucking angry. I wasn't me."



He leaned in and kissed her softly before breaking it with a soft sigh.



Rhett Adelson: "But you changed it all. You gave me life meaning and purpose. You washed my anger away and showed me that there is a way out of all of this madness. And now? Now I'm going to do the same for you. And deep down in my heart? I know we're going to be okay no matter what. Why? Because I have you."



She couldn’t help but be lost in what he was saying, while she knew Rhett had an emotional side it hardly ever flared to the surface, but in his attempt to comfort her he had shown his vulnerability, shown his sensitive side, and most of all made her realize how important this all was, it wasn’t just her that faced the danger now and remembering how close she’d been to losing him back in Mumbai she wasn’t willing to risk it.



He was right this would be okay because it had to be.



She softly brushed his cheek and didn’t say anything for several moments before nodding, what more needed to be said? She understood what he meant because she held that same drive, and vindication. Her life with him was everything she’d ever dreamt of and there was someone standing in the way of that.



Qiyara Singh: “I am happy you found your way back”



She whispered softly. Before she could say much else the appearance of Rhys into the room interrupted whatever else they were going to say.



Yara merely turned to listen to him still grasping Rhett’s hand tightly


Rhys rolled his eyes playfully as he looked at his brother and Yara.



Rhys Adelson: "Alright you two love birds, it's time to get serious and talk about the mission. Let's go."



Rhett shook his head.



Rhett Adelson: "We are as serious as it gets. But yeah, let's talk."



= = = = = = = = =



She always hoped to wake up at the best part of the dream, remembering this meant she didn’t have to face up to the rest. The part that had completely changed her entire world and left her in a state of disarray for the past few months. If she stopped there she wouldn’t have to confront what was beneath the surface, It disguised itself well, but she could feel it viscerally each time she tried to get into the ring, she could see it triggering and altering her capabilities no matter how hard she tried to confront them.



It was the reason she attempted to keep her blind fold on. The reason she tried her damnest to escape the onslaught of it all, because if she didn’t do so, all felt as if it would be lost, and who was she without this life that she created? She couldn’t go back home, she couldn’t just leave her career, and she would never consider leaving Rhett, but she just felt like such a burden to everyone and everything she came into contact with.



And how could anyone but you make you feel worthy?